Fracture reducing frame



Sept. 8, 1936. c, w. P TNEY 2,053,632

FRACTURE REDUCING FRAME Filed Sept. 15, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 CHARLES w.PUTNEY Sept. c. w. PUTNEY v 2,053,632

FRACTURE REDUCING FRAME I Filed Sept. 15, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 8,1936. c w, PUTNEY 2,053,632

FRACTURE REDUCING FRAME Filed Sept. 15, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 CHARLES W-pvTn/EY.

Patented Sept. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My present invention, in its broad aspect, has to do with improvementsin frames for reducin fractures and holding a limb in proper positionwith the fracture reduced until a permanent dressing, such as a cast,may be applied. Primarily my invention is designed to reduce fracturesof the long bones, such as leg and arm bones by means of pull ordistention in both directions axially of the broken limb, or in otherwords reduction of a fracture by extension and counter-extension; andmaintenance of the limb in proper position with the fracture reducedduring observation under a fluoroscope or the like and application of apermanent dressing, such as a cast or the like.

While in the foregoing. paragraph my frame has been described asparticularly applicable to the reduction of fractures of the long bonesof the legs and arms; it is by no means limited in use to reduction offractures in these two members; and it is especially pointed out that myframe does not require for its use any special form of surgical orexamining table, but may-.be used in conjunction with any medium whichwill support the patient, and to that end my frame is supported upon itsown legs, and is portable, completely adjustable, and may be taken downand packed up for storage or transportation in a very small sizepackage. I

In addition to the foregoing objects and advantages my frame is simplein construction and very easy to operate. It holds the injured member inthe best position for attention, and is not limited in its use tohospitals and the like by the necessity of-having special beds, tablesand the like. My frame may be set up and used anywhere the patient maybefound, and may be carried as a part of the equipment of any attendingphysician who may be called in answer to an emergency. Furthermore,there are no parts to get out of order, and its simplicity reduces itscost to a minimum and eliminates parts which would be liable toaccumulate dust and the like.

Other and equally important objects and advantages of my invention willbecome apparent as the detailed description of the same proceeds, and inconjunction therewith it is desired to point out that changes of shape,form, size and the like are permissible to meet varying conditions ofuse, and provided such changes are within the purview of what ishereinafter claimed.

In the drawings wherein is shown the detailed construction of myfracture frame;-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the assembly including the detachableleg supporting member set up and positioned for use;

Figure 2 is a view of the adjustable and detachable links used inconnecting the leg supporting member with the main frame, and also showsin detail my unique type of detachable clamp or connection;

Figure 3 is a detailed side view of the saddle member to hold theuninjured leg pr perly in position;

Figure 4Iis a side view of the main frame part with the pulling elementsillustrated in detail;-

the main frame only is usually used' in reducing fractures of the upperextremities or arms;

Figure 5 is a detail view of the type of adjust ing wheel used with mydevice;

Figure 6 is a view of the foot plate of my main frame;

Figure 7 is a detail view of one of my triangular or double-legsupports, and

Figure 8 is a detail view of the hip or pelvic supporting plate of myauxiliary frame for use in reducing fractures of the lower extremitiesor legs.

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view of the manner of applying my fractureframe to a patient lying on an operating table to reduce a fracture ofthe forearm,

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic view of the manner of applying my fractureframe'to a patient lying on an operating table to reduce a fracture ,ofthe upper arm or humerus, and

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic view of the manner of applying my fractureframe to a patient reclining with the-head and shoulders on a table withthe hips on the hip rest or pedestal, and the unbroken leg supported onthe saddle.

In the drawings wherein like characters of reference are used todesignate like or similar parts throughout the several views thereof Thenumeral I) designates the main fram which is formed with two sections(2) and (3).

The section (2) receives the section (3) in telescoping relationship sothat the length of the frame is adjustable, and each section has anupright extension (4) extending at substantially At the upper endthreads. Each bearing member (6) is designed to receive therein athreaded rod, respectively (8) and (9) which rods are keyed as shown at(I) in Figure for longitudinal movement through the bearing; adjustmentof the respective rods through the bearings (6) being effected by thethreaded adjusting wheels, respectively (I I) and (I2). The purpose ofthis construction being that the rods (8) and (9) may be adjusted awayor toward each other to reduce or increase the space between them andthe like, by turning the wheels (I I) and (I2). Furthermore, thepositions of the bearings (6) and consequently the rods may be adjustedvertically prior to application of my frame to the injured limb. Theinner end of the rod (8) carries a substantially oval foot platedesignated (I3) which terminates in a hooked upper end (I4); the pointof connection between the rod (8) and the plate being about two-thirdsof the distance toward the hooked end. The end of rod (9) terminates ina hook (I5). Supporting the frame (I) are detachable leg members (I6)made at the proper height for the average surgical table. Each legmember has two angularly disposed leg parts (I6a) and (I6b) and astandard (I 'I) carrying a detachable clamping collar (I8) designed toengage the frame and support the same as shown in Figure 1 as anindependent unit adjacent to a bed, or a surgical or examining table orthe like on which the patient is disposed when the frame is in use. Thedetachable clamping collar (I8) which I have chosen to use with thevarious parts of my invention consists of two semicircular clampingsections (IBa) and (I8b) hinged together as at (I80) and designed to beretained together by a wing-nut screw-shank shackle (l8d) as shown inFigures 2 and 7.

In practice the main frame (I) is especially designed to reducefractures of the upper extremities or arms. In which case the injuredmember is disposed between the rods (8) and (9) and secured to hooks(l4) and (|5)suitable straps being used for that purpose or lengths ofbandage and the like. The wheels (I I) and (I2) are then turned toobtain extension and counterextenslon, or pulling action in bothdirections to set the fragments of the injured member and maintain thefracture properly reduced during subsequent examination (as by afiuoroscope or the like) and application of a permanent dressing such asa cast or splints and bandage or the like.

It will be noted that the frame is fully adjustable in all directionsand that it may be readily taken down and packed away in a small space,and also that it is supported on its own legs for use with any suitabletable or the like on which the patient is placed. Furthermore, it willbe noted that the parts are simple in construction, and there is nothingto get out of order or deranged.

In conjunction with the main frame (I) there is provided an auxiliary orsupplementary frame, generally designated by the numeral (20) and whichconsists of a tube-like part (2|), one end of which is supported by alegassembly (22) similar to the leg assemblies (I6). However, thescrewthreaded standard (23) of the leg assembly (22) carries anadjusting wheel (24) and on its upper end is carried an elliptical oregg shaped .hip rest or pedestal (25) all of which are illustrated indetail in Figure 8. The end of the tube part (2|) has a fitting whichreceives the standard (23) between the wheel (24) and the hip rest (25),and there is provided a combination setscrew and pulley (I9) the sideplates of which are designed to be grasped by the hand to turn 7 thescrew part, and the pulley part of which is designed to function as anelement of a Buck's extension when fastened to the foot of a bed. Thebody part is attached to the main frame (I) by an extensible connection(26) including part (26a) threaded into part (26b), and each carrying a.detachable clamping collar (21) similar to clamping collar (I8) exceptthat in this instance one collar (21) is hinged to part (26a) as shownat (28) in Figure 2. In operation the leg assembly (22) is attached tothe leg assembly (I6) of the main frame (I) by a connection (29) similarin construction to the above described connection (26). Carried by thebody part of the supplementary frame (20) is an adjustable saddle-likemember (30) designed to support the uninjured leg, and which is fullyshown in Figures 1 and 3.

By reference to Figure 3 it will be noted that the saddle (30) isadjustably retained on the member (2|) by a screw threaded supportingshaft (2| operating in a T-fitting (2l) slidably mounted on the member(2|) and held in fixed position thereon by a set screw (2|) as shown; sothat the position of the saddle (30) on the member (2|) may be adjustedas well as its height with respect thereto.

When using my device to reduce a fracture of a lower extremity, or leg,the injured member is positioned and secured for'reduction of thefracture by pulling action or extension and counterextension between therods (8) and (9) of the main frame (I), the foot of the fractured legbeing fastened to foot plate (I3); while the uninjured member isproperly positioned and supported upon the supplementary or auxiliaryframe (20) with the leg part of the uninjured leg resting in thesaddle-like member (30) and the hip and pelvis resting upon the pedestal(25); the chest, shoulders, and head of the patient resting upon anadjacent table or the like; the purpose being to properly position andsupport both lower extremities while reducing the fractured bone in aconvenient and suitable position to apply a cast or other permanentfixation.

Referring to Figure 8 again, it will be noted that the wheel (24) has aset screw (24a); the same being supplied for the purpose of fitting intoa. groove in the top of part (22) so that while the wheel (24) may beturned; the two parts will not separate; and part (22) is welded to theleg base (not shown in Figure 8).

To further and more clearly illustrate the manner of applying andoperating my fracture frame, Figures 9 to 11 inclusive show the frameapplied to a patient to reduce certain specific types of fractures.

In Figure 9 the patient is placed on an operating table and the mainframe member applied to reduce a fracture of the forearm, a figure eightbandage (I511) is applied about the elbow and a figure eight bandage(I3a) is applied to the wrist so that the forearm is disposed betweenmembers (8) and (9) for reduction. InFigure the frame is applied toreduce a fracture of the upper arm or humerus; the patient recliningupon an operating table with a figure eight bandage I3b) applied to theelbow and attached to member (I 3), while a girdle (I5b) is applied tothe chest under the injured arm and attached to member I5) Figure 11shows my frame applied to reduce a fractured leg. The patient issupported at the head and shoulders on a table and the uninjured legcarried in the saddle (30) a suitable bandage (30a) being used toprevent b y part, and adjustable means carried by the dislodgment. Thehips are supported on hip support or pedestal and the foot of the in-J'ured leg attached by a figure eight bandage or other type of bandage(I) to the member (13) while a bandage or girdle (I50) is arranged aboutthe groin and thigh and fastened to member (l5) From the foregoing it isbelieved that the operation and construction of my invention will befully understood, but attention is again called to the fact that theparts may be modified to conform to the dictates of varying conditionsof practice and the like, and that while my frame has been described'inconjunction with specific operations, its use and adaptability is notthereby to be understood as limited except as may be indicated by thescope of the subjoined claims.

I claim: 4

1. A fracture reducing frame comprising an extensible main frame memberhaving upstanding terminal ends substantially at right angles to themain frame member and relatively parallel to each other, an adjustablebearing member carried by each of the end parts of the main framemember, each bearing member carrying a rod member relatively parallel tothe main frame member and adjustable in a direction lengthwise of themain frame member thereby exerting a pulling action or extension andcounter-extension upon the fractured part when the apparatus is securedto said part.

2. A fracture reducing frame comprising a,

body part having telescoping sections to provide longitudinal adjustmentthereof, leg members'detachably engaging the body part to independentlysupport "the same adjacent to a patient to be treated, upstandingterminal end members onthe end members and disposed parallel to the bodypart for attachment to a fractured member for exerting pulling actionthereon and sustaining the injured member in proper position with thefracture reduced for subsequent application of a permanent dressing.

3. A fracture reducing frame comprising a longitudinally adjustable bodypart, means car-' duced. said latter member having adjustable legs atone end thereof for supporting the same.

4. A fracture reducing frame comprising an ad-' justable body part,adjustable members carried by said body part for engaging an injuredlimb and exerting sustained pull thereon in both direc tions in linewith the fractured bone for reducing the fracture, legs independentlysupporting said body part from a base, and a member crossing andengaging said body part intermediate its ends and adjustable angularlyand longitudinally with respect thereto for supporting the other lim -inproper position to facilitate reduction of the fracture and comfort ofthe patient, said latter member having legs, and an adjustableconnecbody part. CHARLES WALKER PUTNEY.

tion with the

